Mulade Sheriff Urges President Tinubu to Uphold NDDC Act as Delta Communities Await Court Decision

Niger Delta Activist, Mulade Sheriff insists Chairman must come from highest oil producing areas in the state

Warri: Oil and gas-producing communities of Delta State are celebrating as Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has set October 31, 2024, to deliver a ruling and judgment in a suit challenging the appointment of Mr. Chiedu Ebie as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Justice Abdulmalik scheduled the date after the parties in the case adopted their written addresses as arguments for and against the originating summons.

The plaintiffs, representing communities in Bayelsa and Delta States, sued President Bola Tinubu for allegedly violating the NDDC Act by appointing Ebie. They argue that Ebie, not being from “the highest oil-producing area,” is unqualified for the role of Board Chairman.

Among those who filed the suit are Chief Goodnews Gereghewei, Chief Eddy Brayei, and Mr. Jonah Engineyouwei, acting on behalf of Bisangbene, Agge, and Amatu1 communities in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

President Tinubu, Senate President, the Attorney General of the Federation, the NDDC, and Ebie are the 1st to 5th respondents, respectively.

Representatives from Delta communities, including Jerry Mulade-Aroh of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Mathew Itsekure of Itsekiri Oil and Gas communities, and Hon. Friday Ugedi of Egbema Kingdom, also sought to join the suit, asserting that the Itsekiri or Ijaw communities, as the highest oil producers, should have produced the chairman.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, plaintiffs’ lawyer Mr. Egberipou Sotonye Barakemi urged the court to dismiss the preliminary objection raised by the respondents, while the defense argued for the case’s dismissal due to a lack of jurisdiction.

Comrade Mulade Sheriff, a Niger Delta activist, insists that although Ebie hails from an oil-producing state, he should not hold the NDDC Chairmanship because his community does not produce the highest quantity of oil. Mulade argues that Ebie’s appointment was politically motivated and called for his replacement with someone from core oil-producing communities.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, B.B. Abalaba, asked the court to determine whether Ebie’s appointment contravened the NDDC Act and called for orders to prevent him from assuming office.